Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 6m 18.8s

Jezki³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 155| C| D

9/1

Successful seven times at the highest level including over this trip at Punchestown in 2015. Tackling this trip for just the third time today and he is one to note in this contest.

Form: 1285-12

Nichols Canyon²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| C| D

7/2

Successful nine times from 19 hurdles starts including over this trip at Cheltenham (good) in March. Ran well in defeat when second to Apple's Jade over 2m4f at Fairyhouse (soft) on seasonal debut last time and he is one for the shortlist today.

Form: 12F12-2

Supasundae²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 159| C

7/1

Successful off a mark of 148 in the Coral Cup over 2m5f at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) in March. Career best effort when second at Aintree the following month but held by a couple of these on Fairyhouse running earlier this month.

Form: 12412-3

Bapaume²⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146| C

20/1

Useful juvenile hurdler last season winning at the highest level at Punchcestown (2m, good-to-yielding) prior to finishing runner-up over an extended 2m3f at Auteuil (very soft) in June. Interesting runner stepping up in trip today.

Form: 21231-2

Apple's Jade^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 158| C

4/6

Successful on each of her last four appearances including when seeing off Nichols Canyon in a 2m4f Grade 1 contest at Fairyhouse (soft) last time out. Shapes as if she will handle this step up in trip and she is a leading contender in this contest.

Form: 1211-11

Augusta Kate²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144

25/1

Decent mare on her day but well beaten behind Apple's Jade on her two most recent outings and looks likely to find a few too good once more.

Form: 1F615-6

Non-Runners

Lieutenant Colonel⁶³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Forecasts

Apple's Jade (4/6), Nichols Canyon (7/2), Supasundae (7/1), Jezki (9/1), Bapaume (20/1), Augusta Kate (25/1), Lieutenant Colonel (33/1)

APPLE'S JADE can make her first appearance over this trip a winning one by taking this Grade 1 contest for trainer Gordon Elliott. Jack Kennedy's mount can confirm her Fairyhouse running with Nichols Canyon from earlier this month by once again getting the better of that rival. The selections chief rival is likely to appreciate the return to 3m but with his best form coming on quicker ground than is forecast today he may well have to give best to the mare with Bapaume, who ran well in a Grade 1 contest in France in the spring taken to claim third on his first appearance since June.